K8 Weekly Memo

Our second semester is underway!  With it, we have the opportunity to reinforce our routines and structures.  It is also an excellent time to reflect on the improvements and new opportunities to present in your classroom.

I look forward to getting into your classroom for mid-year observation to see all the great learning.  Have a wonderful Monday!    

Good Reads

Here are two nice articles with some fun ideas.

Reset Your Bell Ringer Routine "Students often get tired of the same bell ringers for an entire year. However, having a consistent routine is important. I've always found the beginning of a new semester or a new nine weeks to be an ideal time to shift the type of bell ringer I'm using while still maintaining the predictable beginning to class many students need to regulate."   Read More

Four Simple Tips to Begin a New Semester "Resolutions abound in the new year, and the beginning of a new semester can represent a clean slate, as well. A new year naturally lends itself to rearranging, replacing, and rejuvenating.   1. Update bulletin boards and classroom walls   2. Organization   3. Introduce a new writing activity   4. Build on grammar skills" Read More

Points of Interest

Welcome

We have two new hires that will be joining as long-term substitutes for the rest of the school year.  Please give them a warm welcome! 

Ms. Alissa Williams is our new 7th and 8th grade math teacher.  Alissa is a recent graduate from EWU.  She was raised in the Spokane Valley area and currently lives on the west side of Loon Lake.  Ms. Willson's hobbies include swimming, spending time with friends and family, and cooking.

Mrs. Keturah Dempewolf will be helping with special education and student support in the 3-8th grades.  Keturah was raised in Deer Park, and has been married for 16 years with three children. Keturah loves the outdoors, hiking, fishing, hunting, gardening, and traveling.

K-5 Charger Assembly

Please get your Charger of the Month certificates to Bailey by Tuesday!  The lighthouse certificates are printed on the back counter in the office. 

  

LID Friday

• This Friday, the classified staff will attend a para PD session in the morning.  

• Certificated staff priority will be unit planning.

• We will review building-wide Fast Bridge, a k8 reading campaign, and mid-year observations at the staff meeting. 

NAEP

4th and 8th grade will be taking the NAEP assessment this week. Please reach out to Rebecca Abercrombie if you have any questions.

4th Grade: Testing on Wednesday.

• 9 AM in Jaymi Stricker's classroom. 

• 1 PM in Heather Gilchrest's room. 

8th grade will test on Thursday, 

• 9 AM Mark Edwards room

• 1 PM in Heidi Smith's room. 

Character Strong:

Please go over the Character Strong / Purposeful People Curriculum on Monday Mornings. This can encourage more week-long discussions in each classroom. Over the next few weeks our support staff will be in to review how these lessons are going so we can provide further support!

MTSS Updates

• K/1 data review meeting in the conference room on Jan 30 during PLC time!

• New intervention groups for grades 2 and up start on Monday.

• I have parent notification letters for you to send home on Monday. If we have students participating in supplemental small group instruction, we need to make sure to have a consistent way to inform parents. Those will be delivered to you!

• Huge thank yous to everyone for helping things go so smoothly 🙂

Calendar

23-24 Calendar

Monday - 01.29

• Stand up Meeting, 9 AM

• New Intervention Groups Begin

• Office Meeting, 1PM

• MS Boys Basketball @ Wellpinit

• BLT Meeting, 4PM

Tuesday - 01.30

• Coach Patsy on Campus

• MS Basketball Pictures @ 3:15

Wednesday - 01.31

• 4th Grade NAEP Testing

• MS Boys Basketball @ Hunters

Thursday - 02.01

• 8th Grade NAEP Testing

• K-5 Charger Assembly

• K-2 @ 2:00 - 2:30

• 3-5 @ 2:30 - 3:00

• PLC WASA Cohort II, Elementary Focus

• MS Boys Basketball @ Selkirk

Friday - 02.02

• Learning Improvement Day

• Para PD 8:30-11:30

UP and Coming Events:

• Next Week Attendance Meetings

• 4th grade helmet safety class, Feb 6

• BLT, Feb 12

• Presidency Day, Feb 19

• Normal Friday, Feb 23

Helpful Links

• MWSD Staff Links
• Minor Referral Form
• Springdale K8 Staff Dashboard